Biography

Parliamentary service

• Elected to the House of Representatives for Perth, Western Australia, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010. Retired prior to general elections 2013.

Ministerial appointments

• Minister for Foreign Affairs from 3.12.2007 to 14.9.2010.
• Cabinet Minister from 3.12.2007 to 18.9.2013.
• Minister for Trade from 28.6.2010 to 14.9.2010.
• Minister for Defence from 14.9.2010 to 18.9.2013.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Banking, Finance and Public Administration served from 12.5.1993 to 29.1.1996; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 25.8.1997 to 31.8.1998
• Joint Standing: Electoral Matters served from 17.11.1993 to 19.9.1995; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade served from 18.6.1996 to 19.6.1997
• Joint Statutory: Corporations and Securities served from 9.2.1994 to 21.2.1994; Corporations and Securities served as Chair from 22.2.1994 to 29.1.1996

Conferences, delegations and visits

• Parliamentary delegation member to Trinidad and Tobago and the USA, July 2006.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, December 2007.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, Japan and the Solomon Islands from January to February 2008.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, March 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Papua New Guinea, April 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan and Singapore, May 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Japan, Italy, the UK, United Arab Emirates and France, June 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, July 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, August 2008.
• Attended official meetings in India and the USA, September 2008.
• Attended official meetings in the Philippines, Cyprus, Israel and France, October 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Mexico, Peru, Japan, Fiji, the UK, Belgium and Norway from November to December 2008.
• Attended official meetings in Ethiopia, January 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Pakistan, February 2009.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates and China, March 2009.
• Attended official meetings in the Netherlands and UK from March to April 2009.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, Indonesia, Japan and Turkey, April 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Saudi Arabia, May 2009.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa, June 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Malta and Egypt, July 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Brazil and Chile, August 2009.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, September 2009.
• Attended official meetings in India, Indonesia, the UK, Poland and Sweden, October 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, Sri Lanka and Singapore, November 2009.
• Attended official meetings in South Korea, December 2009.
• Attended official meetings in Botswana, South Africa and the UK, January 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Spain, Austria and the UK, February 2010.
• Attended official meetings in India, March 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Russia, Estonia and France, April 2010.
• Attended official meetings in China, Japan, New Zealand, the USA and Dominica, May 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, July 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Vanuatu, August 2010.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates, September 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Vietnam, October 2010.
• Attended official meetings in Portugal, November 2010.
• Attended official meetings in New Zealand, February 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the UK and Belgium, March 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates and Timor-Leste, April 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore, the Netherlands and Belgium, June 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the USA and Solomon Islands, July 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, September 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the United Arab Emirates and Belgium, October 2011.
• Attended official meetings in Singapore and Malaysia from October to November 2011.
• Attended official meetings in India, December 2011.
• Attended official meetings in the UK, January 2012.
• Attended official meetings in Belgium, February 2012.
• Attended official meetings in Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, April 2012.
• Attended official meetings in the USA, May 2012.
• Attended official meetings in China and Singapore, June 2012.

Parliamentary party positions

• Australian Labor Party. Served: 13.03.1993 to 05.08.2013
• Shadow Minister for Trade from 20.3.1996 to 27.3.1997.
• Shadow Cabinet Minister from 20.3.1996 to 3.12.2007.
• Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy from 27.3.1997 to 20.10.1998.
• Shadow Minister for Communications from 20.10.1998 to 25.11.2001.
• Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing from 25.11.2001 to 16.6.2003.
• Shadow Minister for Immigration from 8.12.2003 to 26.10.2004.
• Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations from 26.10.2004 to 10.12.2006.
• Shadow Minister for Education and Training from 10.12.2006 to 3.12.2007.
• Chair of the Australian Labor Party Industry Caucus Committee from 1993 to 1996.
• Deputy Leader of the House from 3.12.2007 to 5.8.2013.

Party positions

• Secretary of the Australian Labor Party (WA) from 1987 to 1990.
• Member of the Australian Labor Party National Executive from 1987 to 1990.
• Junior Vice-President of the Federal Australian Labor Party from 1989 to 1990.

Personal

• Born: 12.12.1955, Narrogin, Australia
• Gender: Male

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• BA (University of Western Australia).
• LLM (University of London).
• LLB (University of Western Australia).
• Solicitor, lecturer and tutor from 1978 to 1983.
• Principal Private Secretary to the Attorney-General (WA) from 1983 to 1987.
• Party official from 1987 to 1990.
• Adviser to the Treasurer, the Hon. P Keating, MP, 1991.
• Adviser to the Minister for Science and Technology, the Hon. R Free, MP, 1991.
• Adviser to the Prime Minister, the Hon. P Keating, MP from 1991 to 1992.

Electorate

• Name: Perth
• Location: north central and north-eastern Perth; it includes the city of Perth and the suburbs of Ashfield, Bassendean, Bayswater, Bedford, Beechboro, East Perth, Eden Hill, Embleton, Highgate, Inglewood, Kiara, Lockridge, Maylands, Morley, Mt Lawley, Noranda, Northbridge, and parts of Coolbinia, Dianella, Menora, North Perth, West Perth and Yokine.
• Area: 78 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 91,904 (at 21.8.2010)
• Industries: commercial, retail and service industries, administration.
• Includes: Perth includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Bassendean and Maylands, and parts of Morley, Mount Lawley and Perth.